Rangers to activate Kinsler on Wednesday

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

KANSAS CITY -- Second baseman Ian Kinsler is expected to be activated off the disabled list on Wednesday. Manager Ron Washington said Kinsler will not start on Wednesday but is expected back in the lineup on Friday.

He has been sidelined since July 29 with a strained left groin. Kinsler was 2-for-10 in three games for Frisco and was scheduled to play two games for Oklahoma City in a doubleheader on Tuesday. He'll join the Rangers in Kansas City on Wednesday.

Andres Blanco has been playing second base while Kinsler is out. Alex Cora is also on the active roster. Blanco went into Tuesday's game with 11 hits in his last 23 at-bats (.478) including five doubles and a triple.

Hamilton sees time at DH to rest knee

KANSAS CITY -- Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was at designated hitter again on Tuesday night with a sore right knee that is giving him more problems.

Hamilton, who has had two cortisone shots in the knee so far this season, will receive another injection after Tuesday's game. This is not an anti-inflammatory but a formula called Synvisc that provides lubrication for the knee.

Hamilton has had this medication injected before.

"He's had these shots infrequently so they usually have a lasting effect," assistant general manager Thad Levine said.

Hamilton has had two operations on the knee in the past and has been bothered by it off-and-on the entire season. There is a possibility that he could require surgery in the off-season but isn't thinking about that right now. He doesn't even want to have an MRI to see what he's dealing with in the knee.

"It's not any different, there's just more pain now than there normally has been," Hamilton said. "The key is to get it calmed down, get the right medication going and get out there playing."

Manager Ron Washington said he is not playing Hamilton on Wednesday. The Rangers are off on Thursday so that will give Hamilton two days of rest before possibly returning to the outfield on Friday. Hamilton will also get at least one day off on the artificial turf in Toronto next week.

Otherwise Washington said he is not concerned about Hamilton's knee.

"Josh is playing tonight and he's played last night," Washington said. "Every now and then Josh will get a DH spot. I'm not making it anything more than what it is. I'm not concerned. After he gets the shot we'll know more."

Feldman ready for rehab assignment

KANSAS CITY -- Scott Feldman, who is on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his right knee, is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Oklahoma City on medical rehabilitation assignment on Wednesday. He will follow Dustin Nippert in the RedHawks game.

Feldman, who was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 23, isn't sure what will be the next step after that. He can't be activated until Sept. 7. But he is reporting significant improvement in the knee.

"It feels a lot better," Feldman said. "It's like I didn't have anything wrong with my knee. There's no discomfort."

Harden accepts assignment to bullpen

KANSAS CITY -- Rich Harden did not allow a hit over 6 2/3 innings in a start against the Twins on Aug. 23. The Rangers won 4-0 and Harden was looking forward to pitching against them again.

But Harden struggled in his last start against the Athletics on Sunday and is headed back to the bullpen. The Rangers are moving Derek Holland to the rotation and he'll pitch against the Twins on Friday.

"At this point I just want to pitch and be out there," Harden said. "It's something I can do well and help this team. If that's what they want to do, I'll do it. I prefer to start. I wish I could have made another start against the Minnesota but that was the decision that was made."

Manager Ron Washington said Harden will start out as a middle reliever.

"He might be able to give us two innings of all-out baseball instead of having to go through an opposing lineup nine times," Washington said. "It could get to the point where he could move through the pecking order just like everybody else out there."

Rangers ready to expand roster

KANSAS CITY -- As of Wednesday, rosters can be expanded to up to 40 players. The Rangers will start adding players in increments.

 Along with second baseman Ian Kinsler, the Rangers will activate Cristian Guzman off the disabled list on Wednesday. Guzman has been sidelined since Aug. 14 with a strained quadriceps muscle.

 The Rangers will likely add at least one pitcher on Wednesday. The right-handed candidates are Pedro Strop, Doug Mathis and Omar Beltre. Strop would be a strong candidate now that Frank Francisco is on the disabled list. If the Rangers decide to add another left-hander reliever, Zach Phillips could be a strong possibility. He is on the 40-man roster and is 3-1 with a 2.71 ERA in 42 games.

 Right-handed pitcher Dustin Nippert, who is on the disabled list, is scheduled to pitch three innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. If all goes well, he will be in the Rangers bullpen on Friday.

 Catcher Taylor Teagarden will re-join the team on Friday. The Rangers may add Max Ramirez later in September but probably not until Oklahoma City's season is over.

 The Rangers would still like to add speed off the bench. Oklahoma City infielder Esteban German and outfielder Willy Taveras have been discussed.

 The Rangers have discussed infielder Chris Davis once Oklahoma City's season is over but have not reached a decision.

Hurley to play in Arizona Fall League

Pitcher Eric Hurley, who has been out all season with a broken wrist, is listed among the Rangers' players who are on the Arizona Fall League roster. Hurley, selected by the Rangers in the first round of the 2004 Draft, had three operations this year to repair a broken wrist but the club is hopeful he can make up for lost time in the AFL.

He is on the roster of the Surprise Rafters along with pitchers Danny Gutierrez, Tim Murphy and Adalberto Flores, catcher Jose Felix, infielder Davis Stonebrunner and outfielders Engel Beltre and Joey Butler.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.